Two New Support Schemes announced by Údaras na Gaeltachta

In Ionad na Feamainne in Leitir Mealláin recently, two new support schemes for social entrepreneurship offered by Údarás na Gaeltachta were launched, a support scheme for the development of projects relating to Social Enterprise and a support scheme for the development of a business ideas related to Social Enterprise.

Údarás na Gaeltachta has done a lot of work in collaboration with the Gaeltacht community development organisations in this area in recent years, and the Údarás intends for the Gaeltacht to be a model nationally, in terms of Social Entrepreneurship.

Under the Support Scheme for the development of projects relating to Social Enterprise, a budget of over €210,000 is available to support eligible projects in the sector.

Funding is also available under the Support Scheme for the development of a business idea linked to Social Enterprise, with funding of up to €5,000 per project available, in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire, Director of Regional Community Development and Language Planning said:

“Social Enterprise is invaluable insofar as it empowers communities. These projects provide additional services, create profit and essential employment, and strengthen the community development organisations themselves. The excellent facility here at the Seaweed Centre in Leitir Mealláin shows how community organisations can undertake ambitious high-quality projects, using the Social Enterprise model. These support schemes will make it easier for organisations looking to undertake social enterprise projects for the first time and enable organisations already active in this field to further develop their ideas; we hope that they will encourage community organisations to undertake worthwhile projects in all Gaeltacht areas.”